title: Serological data analyses show that adenovirus 36 infection is associated with obesity: a meta-analysis involving 5739 subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serological studies on the relationship between adenovirus 36 (Ad36) and an increased risk of obesity development have shown conflicting results. We reviewed the published studies and carried out a meta-analysis to explore this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed was searched until December 2012 for the relative references with sufficient information to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 11 case-control studies, including 2508 obese subjects and 3005 controls, were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with nonobese controls, Ad36 infection significantly increased the obesity risk by a pooled OR of 1.60 (95% CI = 1.14-2.25; P < 0.01). Meta-regression showed that the types of subject and obesity assessments were potential risk factors. In the subgroup analysis, a significantly increased risk was found in children (OR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.34-2.85; z = 3.45; P < 0.01) and those with an obesity assessment of BMI ≥ 30 kg/cm2 (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.15-3.10; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ad36 infection is associated with an increased risk of obesity development. To our knowledge, this is the first report to reveal the significant relationship in children with a serological data analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China; Heilongjiang key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Heilongjiang Province, China; Pathogenic-Biological key laboratory, Heilongjiang Higher Education Institutions, 150081, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qinglong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yujia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Lanlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavebratt
authors.forename: Fengmin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hongxi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors